Public, private and unfunded: understanding and clarifying the CHSLD (Long Term Care Facilities) network in Quebec

The Quebec public healthcare system is comprised of 95 health and social service centres (CSSS). Generally, a regional CSSS contains a CLSC (local community service centre), as well as one or more healthcare facilities such as a hospital, a CHSLD (rehabilitation centre or a residential long-term care facility).
Three types of CHSLDs coexist in the Quebec healthcare system:
1. Public CHSLDs Managed entirely by the public sector, public CHSLDs have approximately 29,668 beds in all of Quebec.
2. Private funded CHSLDs. These facilities are managed by private companies in partnership with the public sector. There are approximately 63 private funded CHSLDs in Quebec, with a total of 6,800 beds. The services provided in private-funded CHSLDs, as well as admission and operational regulations, are similar to those of public CHSLDs.
3. Private unfunded CHSLDs. Private unfunded CHSLDs are completely regulated by the private sector. The clientele consists of autonomous and semi-autonomous seniors that require more or less one hour of care per day. All services are available to residents either individually, as a package or through a lease, and can be bought according to their needs.